Where do you buy gas in Northfield and why?

Since we moved last fall, I’ve been buying gas at the Cenex station on South Hwy 3, despite its branding problem (note the three different names in the photo: Cenex, Cannon Valley Coop, Central Valley Coop).

I used to buy gas primarily at Casey’s on Woodley near our previous house.

When Kwik Trip opened on Honey Locust Drive across from Target recently, it occurred to me that I don’t really have a preference for any local gas station. They all have the same price and they all allow me to pay at the pump. I’m not a commuter so I don’t generally shop their attached convenience stores. So my only other reasons for choosing a gas station are A) to what extent it’s convenient to get in and out; and B) do they maintain their stuff needed for washing windows.

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18 thoughts on “Where do you buy gas in Northfield and why?”

You’re right about branding confusion. I think I buy gas at Northfield Amcon. But I can’t keep track of the name. It used to be Northfield Amoco. Then BP. Then Conoco. Whatever. The gas doesn’t taste any different. I go there because Jim and Arlen and the crew have worked on our car since we moved to Northfield in 1990.

I try to buy my gas at Amcon because I know the owners are committed to Northfield. (Not saying others aren’t; they’re just the ones I know about.)

I don’t know if “shopping local” really makes that much difference with gas. I remember reading somewhere that most station owners only sell a couple of cents over their cost. Does anyone know if that’s true? Does buying gas from a “local” like Amcon or Cenex make any difference than buying at SuperAmerica or Kwik-Trip – assuming that gasoline is all that’s purchased?

I no longer buy my gas in Northfield because no station seems to be able to stay with BP (nee AMOCO). There used to be one a few blocks from my home at the corner of St Olaf and Hwy 3 – now Amcon. The station across from Target used to be BP but is now a Kwik Trip. I’ve been using AMOCO/BP credit cards and faithfully buying their products since 1981 so I’m not about to change unless they cease to exist anywhere along my commute to work. Always top quality (and that *does* make a difference despite others assertions that there’s no difference in gas) and never a bit of fuel system troubles ever. And I drive 100mi/day so someone is losing out on my business – and Lonsdale gets it instead. Maybe it makes no difference to anyone since apparently the owner/operators make only pennies on gas alone and make it up on other goodies.

David H., thanks for the link and the info about Kwik-Trip. I still wouldn’t consider them “local”, but rather “regional” – but if their product and service is good, I’d prefer them over the nationals/internationals.

We buy gas at Cenex or Holiday. Sometimes Casey’s and sometime the SuperAmerica. We go for the lowest price and we never buy anything
inside the stores, except mulch at Super America, for the convenience factor. We go to Holiday when we have the up to 12 cents off
coupons from CUB’s and when Holiday is low. We go to Kwik Trip or the old BP for car wash with gas deals.
I used to go to Standard or Amoco, because my Dad always did.

My physics prof explained to us that buying expensive gas is not better than cheap gas, so I don’t go for the premium, and wouldn’t unless it was recommended by the car mfgr.

I knew a lady who owned a gas station in a high traffic Chicago IL suburb, and she would always have gas wars with the neighbors, and it was all about a penny or two, and she would always say she made her money off milk, candy and cigarettes. It was a tiny store, not like the ones around here, but in a very high traffic area. Basically, her husband bought it for her so she would have something to do with her hyperactive self. You can’t get rich off one store alone, but get a couple dozen in good locations and you have something.

I bought gas at the BP station next to Oil Can Henry’s until it went out of business – they matched the per gallon price of SuperAmerica or Casey’s, but the BP octane was 3 points higher. Now that it’s a Kwik Trip, I still buy gas there sometimes, but mostly because I like the car wash.

I don’t generally buy gas at Holiday because the Blue Planet gas seems to give my car the hiccups. Holiday does, however, have a definite donut edge!

I buy my gas at Holiday most of the time. With the Cub foods discount, it can make a couple dollars difference when I fill up. I also use SA with a discount card I got from an auto dealer. As far as buying the convenience store items, Kwik Trip has the best regular price in town on eggs, milk & bananas. I usually go to the one on Hwy. 19 & 3 because I went through the Dale Carnegie course with the lady that manages it. I even remember her name from 7 years ago.

As far as gas quality, there is a difference some of the refiners, depending on which refinery they get their supply from.

Oh, I just remembered, there is a difference in gas if it has been hanging around in tanks, underground or car tanks, for more than about two weeks, and if it has been subjected to extreme temperature changes where water forms in the tanks. How much difference exactly, I do not know.

I always bought my gas at kwik trip….because the staff at both locations were always friendly and kind.
Holiday was always nice too.

Once I was doing my oil change at Oil Can Henry’s and Jeff Hasse came running in, Char thanks for the business! How great is that?
I made sure my husband and my son also did their oil changes there as well. When a customer feels appreciated that’s where they go.

Gas Stations, are just like any other (retail) product and a franchise. They can be owned by “someone” local, or they can be a “corporate” owned operation. Most often, the owner is local unless they happen to just own a series of stations.

When I was working on the sale-transfer from the old BP station to the new Kwik trip, I was told by the appraiser, the owner was local.

Perhaps someone can define local here. Doe sthat mean they live here…own here…invest here…. or all of the above?

I buy most of my gas at Kwik Trip these days. They have a great staff. I believe they will accept coupons from their competitors too (Cub gas coupns) but I think you are limited to one coupon and its only good on the first ten gallons.

I always get my gas and car repairs at Witt Bros. right here in town on Division St. If you answered all of the above to Charlene’s question about what is local, then you described Witt Bros, whose owners live in Nfld, own in Nfld, and have supported the Nfld community for a long time. I think it is great to have a “true” local business in town to support.

One of my friends (a mechanic and physics buff) hasnt had to buy gas for two years now. After doing a ton of research he found a way to convert his car to run on water. I dont know how to explain it, but it has something to do with separating the hydrogen and the oxygen in water. Then the hydrogen is burned (instead of gasoline).

I didnt beleive it, until he told me to pour water in the tank. We went for a spin -I was floored.

I usually go to Casey’s because Woodley Street is a regular route of mine. Also, because it is off the main drag (or at least I assume that’s the reason), it often seems to be a few hours slower to raise prices than the stations on Hwys 3 and 19, so when I see those prices go up I zip over to Casey’s and often can still fill up for the old price.